COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 20, 2012) – The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on Feb. 20 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas and other team news.

HOOKER WITH SOLLYS/NESTLE IN BRAZIL: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) is competing for Sollys/Nestle in the Brazil Superliga during the 2011-2012 club season. Sollys/Nestle battled past sixth-place Banana Boat (9-8) 27-29, 25-23, 25-17, 25-14 on Feb. 14. Hooker scored a match-high 24 points with 19 kills on 41 attacks and five blocks. Hooker added another 18 points on Feb. 16 in a 25-17, 25-27, 25-19, 25-17 victory over 12th-place Macae Sports (1-16). She tallied her points with 15 kills on 31 attacks. Sollys/Nestle, ranked second with a 14-3 record, faces fourth-place Usiminas (13-4) on Feb. 25 in a match that can be seen on SporTV. To follow Hooker in social media platforms, visit destineehooker19.blogspot.com for her blog and click here for her Facebook athlete page.

SYKORA WITH VOLEI FUTURO IN BRAZIL: Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) has returned to Brazil to compete with her club team Volei Futuro in the Brazil Superliga. Sykora returned to the court for her first official appearance on Jan. 20 after suffering serious injuries in an April 2011 bus accident as Volei Futuro was traveling to a post-season match in the Brazil Superliga. Volei Futuro blanked 12th-place Macae Sports (1-16) 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 on Feb. 13. However, Volei Futuro lost to fourth-place Usiminas (13-4) 25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 17-15 on Feb. 16. Sykora did not compete in either match. Volei Futuro, now in third place with a 13-4 record, looks to rebound on Feb. 24 against eighth-place Pinheiros (5-12) in a contest featured on SporTV.

SCOTT-ARRUDA WITH SAO BERNARDO IN BRAZIL: Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), a four-time Olympian for the U.S. Women’s National Team and attempting to become just the third women’s volleyball to compete in five Olympics, signed midway through the 2011-2012 season to play for Sao Bernardo in the Brazil Superliga. Sao Bernardo dropped a 25-16, 25-20, 25-20 match to league-leader Unilever (16-1) on Feb. 13. Scott-Arruda tallied three points in the loss. Sao Bernardo returned to the victory column with a 25-23, 25-20, 25-12 win over 10th-place Sao Caetano (4-13) on Feb. 16. Scott-Arruda piled up eight points, including five kills and three blocks. Sao Bernardo, now in ninth place with a 5-12 record, returns to action on Feb. 24 against seventh-place Mackenzie (8-9).

TOM WITH FENERBAHCE UNIVERSAL IN TURKEY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) is competing for Fenerbahce Universal of the Turkish League in 2011-2012. In the Turkish Cup, Fenerbahce Universal defeated Ted Ankara Koleji 25-11, 25-10, 25-17 on Feb. 14 to advance to the Turkish Cup semifinals. Tom notched 13 points via seven kills on 14 attacks, five aces and one block. Fenerbahce, 17-0 on the regular season with 51 points, plays Nilufer VitrA on Feb. 25 in its next Turkish League match. In CEV Champions League action, Fenerbahce has advanced to the 4th Final Round, or quarterfinals, to play 2011 CEV Champions League runnerup and 2011 FIVB Club World Championship gold medalist Rabita Baku in a home-and-home series. The first match will be on Feb. 22, while the return match will be played on Feb. 29. To watch the Feb. 22 match live online, click here for the 14:00 CET match start.

KIM GLASS, SPICER WITH RABITA BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) and setter Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) are competing for Rabita Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League. Rabita, the 2011 CEV Champions League runner-up, will now face Turkey’s Fenerbahce Universal Istanbul in the CEV 4th Final Round, or the equivalent to the quarterfinals. The two teams will have home-and-home matches on Feb. 22 and Feb. 29. To watch the Feb. 22 match live online, click here for the 14:00 CET match start. Rabita Baku defeated Lokomotiv Bileceri 25-12, 25-6, 25-16 on Feb. 14 in Azerbaijan Super League action. For video highlights of the match, click here. Rabita continued its unbeaten record with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-23 victory over Igtisdchi on Feb. 17. Rabita is 7-0 in the Azerbaijan Super League, but trails Baki 15-14 in points due to Baki (6-3) having played two more matches.

BOWN, TAMAS WITH AZERRAIL BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blockers Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) are playing for Azerrail Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Azerrail defeated Azeryolservis 25-18, 25-15, 25-22 on Feb. 14. For photos of the match, click here. Azerrail is currently 6-1 in the Azerbaijan Super League, one loss more than undefeated Rabita Baku. In CEV Champions League action, Azerrail will face Russia’s Dinamo Kazan in a home-and-home 4th Final Round series with matches on Feb. 22 and Feb. 28. To watch the Feb. 22 match live online, click here for the 17:00 CET match start.

METCALF, THOMAS WITH LOKOMOTIV BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) and middle blocker Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.) are playing for Lokomotiv Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Lokomotiv Baku topped Lokomotiv Bileceri 25-17, 25-14, 25-22 on Feb. 17 to improve to 4-3 in the Azerbaijan Super League. In CEV Challenge Cup action, Lokomotiv has reached the 4th Final Round to face Kralovo Pole Brno in a home-and-home series played Feb. 22 and Feb. 29.

HANEEF-PARK WITH IGTISADCHI BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) is playing in the Azerbaijan Super League with Igtisadchi Baku in 2011-2012. Igtisadchi edged Baki Baku 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 26-24, 18-16 in a thrilling five-set match on Feb. 14. Haneef-Park scored 31 points via 24 kills on 45 attacks, four aces and three blocks. In its second Super League match of the week, Igtisadchi lost to undefeated Rabita Baku 25-15, 25-23, 25-23 on Feb. 17. Igtisadchi is now 4-4 overall and in fourth place.

KLINEMAN WITH PESARO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) is competing for Scavolini Pesaro of the Italian Serie A1 in the 2011-2012 club season. In making up its regularly scheduled fifth round match, Pesaro rallied past third-place Chateau d’Ax Urbino Volley (10-5, 31 points) 24-26, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13 on Feb. 16. Klineman netted a match-high 23 points with 20 kills on 41 attacks and three blocks while handling 29 service receptions. On the opposite side of the net, USA’s Juliann Faucette came off the bench to provide seven kills in starting the final three sets. In its regularly scheduled match this week, Pesaro again fought back to earn a five-set win, this time a 24-26, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 15-13 contest against second-place MC Carnaghi Villa Cortese (13-4, 39 points) on Feb. 19. Klineman pocketed a team-high 21 points with 18 kills on 54 attacks, two blocks and an ace. She also added a 70 positive reception percent on 23 chances. Pesaro, now 8-8 overall with 22 points for seventh place, will have two Serie A1 matches this week, including a postponed sixth-round match on Feb. 22 against fifth-place Asystel Volley Novara (11-4, 26 points) and the regularly scheduled Feb. 26 match against 11th-place Riso Scotti Pavia (0-16, 1 point).

LLOYD WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) is playing for Yamamay Busto Arsizio of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2011-2012 season. Yamamay Busto Arsizio remains undefeated in the Italian Serie A1 division with a 16-0 record and 47 points after sweeping seventh-place Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza (8-9, 22 points) on Feb. 19. Lloyd set Busto Arsizio to a 43 kill percent with only 13 errors on 114 attacks. She provided two blocks and a kill for three individual points. Busto Arsizio plays fifth-place Asystel Volley Novara (11-4, 26 points) on Feb. 26 in the next round of the Serie A1. In CEV Cup action, Busto Arsizio will face Schweriner SC in a Challenge Round home-and-home series played Feb. 23 and Feb. 28.

BARBOZA, HARMOTTO WITH MODENA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) and middle blocker Christa Harmotto (Hopewell, Pa.) are competing for LIU-JO Modena of the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. After an idle week in the Serie A1, Modena swept Chieri Torino Volley Club 25-15, 25-21, 25-15 on Feb. 19. Harmotto charted 11 kills on 20 attacks and seven blocks for a team-high 18 points. Barboza added five kills in the victory with a 71 positive reception percent on a match-high 28 attempts. Modena, now in eighth place with a 6-10 record and 20 points, resumes Serie A1 play on Feb. 26 against ninth-place Cariparma SiGrade Parma (6-11, 20 points).

BERG, WILSON WITH VILLA CORTESE IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) and past U.S. National Team player Makare Wilson (Gardena, Calif.) are playing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese in the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Villa Cortese lost to sixth-place Scavolini Pesaro (8-8) 24-26, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 15-13 on Feb. 19 for its second consecutive Serie A1 loss. While Berg did not suit for the match, Wilson turned in five kills, four blocks and an ace for 10 points. Villa Cortese, which remains in second place with a 13-4 record and 39 points, will have wait nearly two weeks to break the losing streak as it is idle next week in Serie A1 action. In CEV Champions League action, Villa Cortese has reached the 4th Final Round and will play Italian rival Volley Bergamo in the quarterfinal round in a home-and-home series played on Feb. 23 and Feb. 29. To watch the Feb. 23 match live online, click here for the 20:30 CET match start.

DAVIS, RICHARDS WITH PIACENZA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team libero Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and outside hitter Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah) are part of the Italian Serie A1 Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza squad in 2011-2012. Piacenza dropped a 25-21, 25-19, 25-20 match to league-leader Yamamay Busto Arsizio on Feb. 19. Davis provided a 74 positive reception percent on 23 attempts, while Richards was on the active roster but did not play. Piacenza challenges Chieri Torino Volley Club on Feb. 26 in the eighth round of the second half.

PAOLINI WITH ICOS CREMA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) is playing for Icos Crema Volley in the Italian Serie A2 Division for 2011-2012. Icos Crema downed IHF Volley Frosinone 25-13, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22 on Feb. 19. Paolini contributed 11 kills on 18 attacks to go with six blocks for 17 points. Icos Crema (16-4, 48 points), which is third in the standings and only two points out of first place, challenges 14th-place Lavoro Doc Pontecagnano (5-13, 15 points) on Feb. 26 in its next Serie A2 match.

LARSON WITH DINAMO KAZAN IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is competing for Dinamo Kazan of the Russia Super League. Kazan rallied past Omichka 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-9 on Feb. 16. Larson scored nine points with eight kills on 31 swings and a block while holding a 65 positive percent on 17 service receptions. However, Kazan could not produce a second straight come-from-behind victory in losing to Khabarovsk 25-16, 12-25, 25-18, 25-21 on Feb. 18. Larson did not suit for the match. Despite the loss, Kazan remains in first place with a 15-3 record and 42 points. Larson and company will face Proton on Feb. 25 in the next Russia Super League match. In CEV Champions League action, Kazan will face Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku in a home-and-home 4th Final Round home-and-home series played Feb. 22 and Feb. 28. To watch the Feb. 22 match live online, click here for the 17:00 CET match start. To read Larson’s blog, click here.

AKINRADEWO WITH DINAMO KRASNODAR IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar of the Russia Super League in 2011-2012. Krasnodar lost for the fourth straight time in the Russia Super League after falling to Uralochka 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 on Feb. 16. Akinradewo totaled five kills on seven errorless attacks to go with three blocks for eight points. Krasnodar snapped the losing streak on Feb. 19 with a 26-24, 25-20, 25-21 victory over Odinstsovo. Akinradewo tallied two kills and three blocks for five points. Krasnodar , now in fourth place with an 11-7 record and 35 points, will face Omichka on Feb. 26 in the next round of the Russia Super League. In CEV Cup action, Krasnador will now play 2004 Tomis Constanta in the Challenge Round with home-and-home matches on Feb. 21 and March 1.

GIBBEMEYER WITH TOYOTA AUTO BODY IN JAPAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer is playing for Toyota Auto Body of the Japan V-League during the 2011-2012 club season. Toyota lost a five-set heartbreaker 22-25, 25-19, 31-29, 19-25, 15-13 to sixth-place Pioneer (6-11) on Feb. 18. Gibbemeyer notched 24 points with 20 kills coming off 40 attacks, two blocks and two aces. She held a .475 hitting efficiency in the match. On the following day, Toyota lost to league-leader Toray (14-3) 28-26, 25-19, 25-17 as Gibbemeyer was credited with 12 kills on 22 attacks and two blocks for 14 points. Toyota (4-13), which dropped to seven place in the V-League standings, returns to action against fourth-place JT (9-8) on Feb. 25 and second-place Denso (13-4) on Feb. 26 in Kanagawa.

HODGE, ALISHA GLASS WITH POLAND’S ATOM TREFL SOPOT: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) and setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), both Penn State University products, are playing for Poland’s Atom Trefl Sopot in 2011-2012. In the first round of the PlusLiga playoffs, Sopot was too much for Budowlani Lodz in advancing to the next round. Sopot won the first match of the best-of-three series 25-8, 25-17, 25-15 on Feb. 14. Glass set Sopot to a 44 percent while adding two individual kills on as many attacks and a block for three points to earn the match’s MVP honor. Hodge provided 12 kills on 31 swings and two blocks for 14 points. In the second match, Sopot blanked its opponent 25-14, 25-20, 26-24. For the second match in a row Glass set Sopot to a 44 kill percent, while tacking on four points with two blocks, an ace and a block. Hodge chipped in 13 points with 11 kills, one block and one ace. To read Glass’ blog, click here.

CRIMES, MIYASHIRO, LICHTMAN WITH POLAND’S BKS ALUPROF BIELSKO-BIALA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), spiker Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) and libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) are competing for BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala in the Poland Plus Liga. Bielsko-Biala swept KS Palac Bydgoszcz in both matches of a best-of-three series in the opening round of the PlusLiga playoffs. In the first match on Feb. 14, Bielsko-Biala won 25-17, 25-16, 29-27. Miyashiro provided a 60 positive percent on 10 service reception chances, while Lichtman was a sub in the second and third sets. For photos of the match, click here. In the rematch, Bielsko-Biala routed KS Palac Bydgoszcz 25-21, 25-14, 25-15.